Man oh man, has it been cold this week! While most of us have been cuddled up inside hibernating and waiting for this cold snap to be over, Mary, who is part of our Pure Muskoka team, has been out proving that wonderful things can be created in sub-zero temperatures.
Did you know that bubbles freeze? Like the kind of soap bubbles you blow outside with the kids in the summertime? No kidding! Not only that, they look like gorgeous, feathery orbs of pure magic!
Here are Mary’s captures of her fun (and beautiful) experiment:
If you would like to try your hand at freezing bubbles, wait until the temperature falls below freezing and find a cold (ideally frozen), flat surface sheltered from the wind to blow the bubbles onto. The colder it is outside, the better the trick works.
According to Mary, there are different methods and mixtures out there for creating the perfect frozen bubble, but after a few attempts, she settled on this recipe she found on theweathernetwork.com and it worked quite well:
INGREDIENTS
- 200 ml of warm water
- 35 ml of dish soap
- 35 ml of corn syrup
- 2 tbsp of sugar
- A container
- A spoon for mixing
- A straw
METHOD
Add the corn syrup to the water, followed by the dish soap. 2) Add the sugar. This helps with crystallization. 3) Pour the mixture into the container and set in the freezer for a few minutes -- just long enough for everything to cool off. Then you're ready to head outside and blow some bubbles! They'll be fragile, so try to find a spot that's sheltered from the wind.
Ideal temperatures are between -10°C and -25°C. That's when you're likely to see tiny ice formations in your bubbles. Also, be sure to have your camera ready to capture these amazing works of art in nature. On a clear day, when the sunlight shines through the bubble you will see colours and patterns as they crystallize!
Have fun, and be patient! It could take a few tries before you get a good bubble.
Paul H
How cold does it actually need to be for this to work? And are you shooting handheld or on a tripod?
Melissa
Sooo cool. Definitely doing this with the kids next cold snap.
Shanna
Beautiful! And very relaxing to watch too!
Roanne
I first learned of this beautiful bit of winter magic while we were living in Fairbanks, Alaska. I haven’t tried it yet, but maybe one day this winter. Thank you for sharing this and all your other beautiful photos!
Carol Ursano
What an interesting idea! This is a unique way to celebrate winter! Thanks for the idea.